Brewster bans all cannabis business, except medical

Rich Eldred

Tuesday

Dec 4, 2018 at 4:40 PMDec 4, 2018 at 4:40 PM

BREWSTER -- Brewster has banned to sale of recreational marijuana in town, as well as all other marijuana associated business outside of medical dispensing, at least until the first lawsuit is settled.

“We will raise issues on the fundamental flaws of the bylaw. To the extent the bylaw excludes us from being able to participate then litigation is an option,” Adam Fine, an attorney for the Haven Center (which is seeking permits for a medical dispensary/adult use retail outlet on Route 6A) said last week at a forum.

Brewster has a zoning bylaw permitting recreational sales, as well as other businesses on the books, that was approved last March.

“I think if it does pass there will certainly be litigation,” Jim Borghesani of the Haven Center added.

Well, it has passed.

Town meeting voters on Monday night approved the citizen’s petition, Article 13, a general bylaw prohibiting those businesses, by a 632-561 vote. The Stony Brook school gym was filled to capacity, standing room only, with overflow voters packed into the Library.

The process was tortured and pushed the meeting deep into the night, to the point an early adjournment was proposed as 11 p.m. approached with only 3 of 15 articles resolved almost four hours after the scheduled 7 p.m. start.